PowerBasic

Powerbasic, Inc. offers an amazing Windows compiler (currently version 9.0) which I have been using for the last 10 years or so.

Why do I use it ?

First, I prefer the basic programming language. Powerbasic syntax follows the long time standard for the Basic language, where as other “so called” Basic compilers you may find on the web do not.  I can still write code just like I did with GWBasic, QuickBasic and PDS 7.1 (core language syntax of course). Powerbasic though adds many newer constructs found in languages like C, but in a Basic like syntax. One I use a lot is pointers. Some core functionality in my software could not have been written without things like pointers. You can even have code pointers and call subroutines or functions via an address pointer.

The compiler is rock solid too! Unlike some compilers offered on the web which tend to be a bit buggy, Powerbasic is very reliable.

The compiler is fast, both in compile speed and in execution speed.

The compiler produces very small (in size) EXE’s and DLL’s which is another plus.

I think the new Classic Compiler is a great deal for those interested in Basic. They sell the previous version of the compiler and call it Classic PowerBasic, but it is a very powerful tool in its own right. My commercial programming tool, EZGUI 4.0, was written using PowerBasic 6.1. The current version of PowerBasic is 9.0 and the classic version is the 8.0 version, so you can buy for cheap a more current version of Powerbasic than I used to develop my commercial software tool (note: EZGUI 5.0 is in development and is being written using  Powerbasic 9.0, but I only use it because my source code maxed out the limits of Powerbasic 6.1, so need the greater source code size limits of version 9.0).

Powerbasic Classic has all a budding programmer needs to get started. Its on sale for $49 right now, but the price may rise a little in the future. You can use my freeware visual designers to help you get started in generating code for your user interfaces. You can find them here:  http://cwsof.com/tempbak/freeware.htm 

If you are interested in the Powerbasic compiler check out their web site at: http://www.powerbasic.com

–  PowerBasic is a trademark of Powerbasic, Inc.